Business

Market Size Set to Expand from $57 Billion Base in FY25 India’s building materials market is projected to reach nearly $100 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 10 to 12 percent over the next five years, according to a report released on Wednesday.The sector currently stands at an estimated $57 billion in FY25, with growth being driven by rising real estate activity and increasing consumer spending on housing upgrades.Fast-Moving Electrical Goods Lead Growth Opportunity The report by Avendus Capital highlights fast-moving electrical goods as the largest opportunity within the segment. Wires and cables are expected to grow at a mid-teens CAGR, supported by ongoing grid upgrades, expansion of data centers...

Global smartwatch shipments grew 4% year on year in 2025, recovering from a decline recorded in 2024, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Smartwatch Shipments Tracker released on Wednesday.The recovery reflects a shift in the competitive landscape, driven by hardware and software upgrades from major players, rising consumer preference for technologically advanced devices, and a stronger industry focus on health functionalities.Apple Reports First Shipment Growth Since 2022 According to Counterpoint Research, Apple recorded its first year on year shipment growth since 2022.Senior research analyst Anshika Jain said the improvement was driven by a complete portfolio refresh, including the introduction of the Series 11, Ultra...

Indian Rupee Opens Higher in Interbank Market The Indian rupee strengthened by 6 paise to 90.89 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, February 25, supported by a weaker American currency and a strong opening in domestic equity markets.At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.94 against the dollar and later advanced to 90.89, marking a 6 paise gain from its previous close.On Tuesday, the local currency had traded in a narrow range and settled 6 paise lower at 90.95 against the US dollar.Dollar Buying Caps Upside for Rupee Forex market participants noted that continued dollar buying activity limited the rupee’s gains.Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director at Finrex...

Mumbai, February 25: Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty rallied sharply in early trade on Wednesday, recovering from the steep losses recorded in the previous session, as investors returned to information technology stocks amid supportive global cues.Sensex Jumps Over 550 Points; Nifty Reclaims 25,580 The 30 share BSE Sensex surged 558.79 points to 82,784.71 during the early trading session. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 157.05 points to 25,581.70.The rebound comes a day after both indices witnessed a sharp correction, reflecting renewed buying interest at lower levels.IT Stocks Drive Market Gains Gains were largely led by IT counters, which had come under heavy pressure on Tuesday amid concerns surrounding artificial...

Mumbai, February 25: The Indian equity markets opened on a strong note on Wednesday, tracking a recovery in technology stocks on Wall Street overnight, with IT shares emerging as the key drivers of early gains.Sensex and Nifty Rise in Early Trade As of 9:30 am, the BSE Sensex advanced 559 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 82,785. The NSE Nifty 50 climbed 157 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 25,582.Broader markets mirrored the positive trend. The Nifty Midcap 100 index gained 0.27 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 0.46 per cent, indicating steady participation beyond frontline stocks.Sectoral Indices Trade Firm; IT Tops Gainers All major sectoral indices traded in positive territory during early hours.The Nifty IT index...

200,000 Taiwanese Accounts Accessed in Coupang Cyber Incident Seoul, February 25: US-listed e-commerce giant Coupang said on Wednesday that around 200,000 Taiwanese customer accounts were compromised in a recent data breach that affected approximately 33 million accounts.The disclosure follows a comprehensive forensic investigation conducted by cybersecurity firms Mandiant and Palo Alto Networks after the breach was detected in November 2025.According to the company, the unauthorized activity was carried out by a former employee.Forensic Probe Points to Former Employee In its statement, Coupang said the breach was the result of criminal activity by a former employee.“This was a crime committed by a former employee against...

Hyundai Motor, Kia and BMW Korea Recall Over 107,000 Vehicles in South Korea Over Fire Risk Concerns Hyundai Motor, Kia and BMW Korea are voluntarily recalling a combined 107,158 vehicles across 37 models in South Korea due to manufacturing defects that may increase the risk of fire, the transport ministry said on Wednesday, February 25.The large-scale recall affects electric vehicles and internal combustion models, with issues ranging from battery management software faults to defective starter motor components.Hyundai Motor and Kia Recall EVs Over Battery Management System Issue According to the ministry, 37,690 units of four Hyundai models, including the Kona Electric, are being recalled due to a problem in the battery management...

Ahmedabad, February 25, 2026 – Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (BSE: 532921 | NSE: ADANIPORTS) has announced the early results of its previously declared cash tender offers to repurchase up to $495.14 million worth of outstanding senior notes, as part of its ongoing liability management exercise. The company is seeking to buy back:Up to $345.137 million of its 4.00% Senior Notes due 2027 Up to $150 million of its 3.10% Senior Notes due 2031Early Tender Results Snapshot As of the Early Tender Date on February 24, 2026, valid tenders received stood at:Security DescriptionAggregate Principal Amount TenderedMaximum Acceptance Amount4.00% Senior Notes due 2027$101.584 million$345.137 million3.10% Senior Notes due...

Aaditya Thackeray Targets BJP Over Maharashtra EV Policy After Rajiv Bajaj Flags ‘Failure’ Risk Mumbai, February 25: A political flashpoint has emerged in Maharashtra after Aaditya Thackeray seized upon critical remarks by Rajiv Bajaj regarding the state’s electric vehicle policy, accusing the BJP-led government of pushing it toward collapse.The comments follow Bajaj’s warning in a televised interview that Maharashtra’s EV policy could be headed for what he described as a potential “policy failure.”Bajaj Flags Delays in EV Subsidy Disbursal In the interview, Bajaj responded to questions on whether states were uniform in disbursing electric vehicle subsidies. He said that while delays in subsidy payments are not unusual across...

Paramount Raises Warner Bros Takeover Bid to $31 Per Share, Intensifying Battle With Netflix Warner Bros Discovery said that Paramount has increased the price of its takeover offer to $31 per share, potentially escalating a high-stakes bidding contest with Netflix over the future of the Hollywood powerhouse.The revised all-cash proposal comes after Paramount had initially offered $30 per share in December. That earlier hostile bid was launched just days after Warner reached an agreement to sell its studio and streaming business to Netflix for $27.75 per share.Paramount Sweetens Offer With Higher Termination Fee and Ticking Payment In addition to raising the per-share offer, Warner said Tuesday afternoon that Paramount has increased...

Elixiir Foods Raises $9 Million to Build Private Labels and Farm-to-Fork Backend in Delhi NCR Elixiir Foods, a National Capital Region based grocery startup, has raised $9 million in its seed funding round, with the capital set to accelerate its private-label strategy, farm-to-fork backend infrastructure, and tech-enabled omnichannel expansion across Delhi NCR.The funding round was led by 3one4 Capital, with participation from Incubate Fund Asia.Founder and Chief Executive Officer Arvind Mediratta said the fresh capital will be deployed to establish physical retail stores alongside e-commerce capabilities, while also building a robust supply chain directly linked to farmers.Private Labels to Drive 60 to 70 Percent of Sales Elixiir...

Corporate Updates: Paytm Launches Silver Savings, Utkarsh SFB Partners Kotak Life, IHG Signs Holiday Inn in Madurai One97 Communications Launches Paytm Silver for Digital Savings One97 Communications, the parent company operating the Paytm brand, on Tuesday announced the launch of Paytm Silver, enabling users to begin saving in silver through its app starting at Rs 20.The new offering is designed to promote disciplined savings in small amounts, allowing users to gradually accumulate silver over time. According to the company, the feature offers flexibility for use during festivals, personal milestones, and future financial requirements.The company said it has witnessed strong adoption of its Paytm Gold product. Building on that...

Government Permits Export of 25 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat to Stabilize Domestic Market Centre Allows Limited Wheat Exports Despite Prohibited Policy Status New Delhi, February 24: The government has permitted the export of 25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, even as the overall export policy for the grain continues to remain under the prohibited category.The decision, taken earlier this month, was formally notified on Tuesday by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.In its notification, the DGFT stated that while the export policy for wheat remains prohibited, an exception has been granted allowing the shipment of 25 LMT of wheat. The detailed modalities governing these exports will be notified...

Vivriti Group Launches Vivriti Next, Vineet Sukumar Commits ₹200 Crore to New Holding Platform Vivriti Next to Anchor Lending, Private Credit and Capital Market Expansion Mumbai, February 24: Vivriti Group has unveiled Vivriti Next as its new operating and holding company, marking a structural shift aimed at expanding beyond traditional lending. Founder and Managing Director Vineet Sukumar has committed ₹200 crore to the new entity in his personal capacity, underlining the group’s long term growth ambitions.Vivriti Next will house the group’s lending arm, Vivriti Capital, and its private credit business, Vivriti Asset Management. In addition to consolidating these businesses, the platform will broaden its scope to include capital...

Omnitech Engineering Raises ₹174.6 Crore from Anchor Investors Ahead of ₹583 Crore IPO Omnitech Engineering has raised over ₹174 crore from anchor investors on Tuesday, a day before the opening of its initial public offering. The Rajkot-based manufacturer of precision-engineered components finalized allocations at the upper end of the price band, signaling strong institutional interest ahead of its market debut.Anchor Investors Subscribe at ₹227 Per Share According to a circular uploaded on the BSE website, the company allocated 76,91,629 equity shares to anchor investors at ₹227 per share, aggregating to approximately ₹174.6 crore.Among the participants were leading domestic and global institutions including ICICI Prudential Mutual...

Government to Divest Up to 4% Stake in Indian Railway Finance Corporation via OFS The Government of India will divest up to a 4 percent stake in Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd through an Offer for Sale, beginning Wednesday. The move is part of the government’s ongoing stake dilution in public sector enterprises.The floor price for the Offer for Sale has been fixed at ₹104 per equity share, according to a regulatory filing by the company.Offer Structure and Timeline The stake sale will open for non retail investors on Wednesday, while retail investors can place bids on Thursday.As per the announcement by Department of Investment and Public Asset Management Secretary Arunish Chawla, the government will initially divest 2...

Markets today are navigating a mix of boardroom suspense, global tariff tensions and a renewed debate around artificial intelligence. From sharp swings in Indian equities to fresh trade uncertainty in the United States, policy and corporate developments are shaping investor sentiment across the board.Here are the top 10 stories driving business and policy conversations.1. Tata Sons Defers Decision On N Chandrasekaran’s Extension Tata Sons has deferred a decision on extending the term of Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran following its board meeting on Tuesday.Sources indicate that the matter has now been pushed to the next board meeting scheduled in June, prolonging speculation around leadership continuity at the salt to software...

India and Canada Set to Finalize Terms of Reference for Free Trade Agreement Talks FTA Negotiations Likely to Resume This Week India and Canada are poised to take a significant step toward strengthening bilateral economic ties, with both sides expected to finalize the Terms of Reference for a proposed Free Trade Agreement later this week. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed on Tuesday that discussions are progressing and an official launch of negotiations could follow shortly.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to arrive in India on February 26. During his visit, the two nations aim to conclude the Terms of Reference, which will define the scope, structure, and modalities of the proposed trade pact...

American Express India Partners Magic Bus to Train 3,000 Youth in Digital and Employability Skills Three-Year Initiative to Boost Job Readiness in Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR New Delhi, February 24: American Express India on Tuesday announced a three-year partnership with Magic Bus India Foundation to equip young people with employability and digital skills, helping them navigate an increasingly competitive and technology-driven economy.Under the initiative, nearly 3,000 young people across Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR will receive industry-relevant technical training along with essential life skills aimed at strengthening their employment prospects.Focus on Cloud, AI and Cybersecurity Training The program provides structured job-readiness...

BharatBenz Expands Eastern India Footprint with New Raniganj Dealership Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, a subsidiary of Daimler AG, has inaugurated a new BharatBenz dealership in Raniganj, West Bengal, strengthening its presence in the eastern region of the country.The new dealership, named Agile Trucking, marks a strategic expansion for the BharatBenz brand as it deepens its service and sales network in key freight corridors.85,000 Sq Ft Facility to Serve Eastern India Market Spread across 85,000 square feet, the Raniganj facility is equipped to handle comprehensive customer needs, including vehicle sales, after-sales service, and spare parts support.Staffed by 65 trained personnel, the dealership has the capacity to service...